he Manx Motor Cycle Club and Department for Enterprise have today confirmed plans for a ‘new look’ Manx Grand Prix in 2022.

It follows a review undertaken by both organisations earlier this year, working closely with other stakeholders critical to the delivery of the event including the TT Marshals Association, Manx Road Racing Medical Services and ACU Events Ltd.

The review was designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Manx Grand Prix, which is set to celebrate its centenary in 2023. Factors considered as part of the review included:

• Analysis of the delivery costs and the benefits to the local economy
  
• The impact road closures required to stage the event had on residents and businesses
  
• Safety risk management
  
• The provision of sufficient marshalling cover for the full event duration
  
• Fan, media and industry relevance, and the continuous need to attract new fans
  

The new look for the event will bring to an end the use of the Classic TT designation, with a five-race programme planned featuring a range of classes for modern and classic machinery all held under the Manx Grand Prix title.

The Manx Grand Prix Races for modern machinery will be more closely aligned to the Isle of Man TT Races, with the Senior and Junior Races, for Supersport and Supertwin machines respectively, operating to similar (but not identical) specifications as seen at the TT, giving riders the opportunity to achieve their goals on the TT course.

The Classic Manx Grand Prix Races will build on the Island’s reputation for high profile classic motorcycle racing, with the world’s best teams and many of the leading TT competitors expected to take part.

The duration of the event will reduce from fourteen days to nine in 2022, starting on Sunday 21st of August and culminating on Monday 29th of August (August Bank Holiday). This reduction will ensure sufficient marshalling cover can be provided for all qualifying sessions and races, whilst reducing the overall net cost of the event to the Isle of Man taxpayer and lessening the impact of road closures on local residents and businesses.

The Manx Grand Prix will also follow the Isle of Man TT Races by adopting the new Safety Management System being introduced for racing on the Mountain Course, which is aimed at driving safety performance across all areas of the events.

In a further development, the Manx Motor Cycle Club have also appointed ACU Events Ltd as race organiser, who have fulfilled the same role at the Isle of Man TT Races since 2008. The Manx Motor Cycle Club will retain ownership of the Manx Grand Prix brand and lead the administrative delivery of the event, whilst the Department for Enterprise will continue to provide the funding required to stage the event, provision of facilities, infrastructure and logistics, in addition to assuming responsibility for event marketing and promotion.

A spokesperson from the Manx Motor Cycle Club said:

'Having continually evolved since its inception in 1923, these latest set of developments announced today for the Manx Grand Prix mark an exciting, new chapter for the famous event.

Ensuring its long-term sustainability, we have acted not only to address the challenges that the event faces, but also to inject new energy into both the look of the event, to which we believe will lead us to a successful future that stretches long beyond the centenary event in 2023.'

Rob Callister, Political Member with responsibility for tourism and motorsport, commented:

‘Having played an important role in our visitor economy for almost 100 years, I greatly welcome the developments announced today with regards to the Manx Grand Prix.

‘This key event contributes a significant £7.1m to the wider Manx economy and, when combined with the Isle of Man TT Races, accounts for £44m of visitor spending, which could be supporting up to 815 jobs in the island’s economy. It was therefore crucial that, together with the Manx Motorcycle Club, we undertook this review to identify ways that can help us to ensure the long-term sustainability of the event ahead of its centenary in 2023.

‘As the event enters a new and exciting phase, working alongside all key delivery partners, we are committed to ensuring its future success, supporting the Manx Motor Cycle Club and the other organisations involved for many years to come.’
A brief F.A.Q (frequently-asked-questions) response sheet follows, with the intent to answer as many of the most immediate questions likely to be raised.


WHY IS THE FORMAT OF THE CLASSIC TT AND MANX GRAND PRIX BEING CHANGED?

The Manx Motor Cycle Club and the Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise undertook a review of the event earlier this year, working closely with other organisations critical to the delivery of the event including the TT Marshals’ Association, the Manx Road Racing Medical Services, and ACU Events Ltd.

The review was undertaken to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Manx Grand Prix ahead of its centenary in 2023.

WHY HAS THE CLASSIC TT BEEN DISCONTINUED?

The decision to assimilate classic racing back into the Manx Grand Prix and to end the use of the Classic TT designation has been made to promote a single event. With all racing at the event now sitting under the Manx Grand Prix title  the event will be more clearly marketed as the Manx Grand Prix.

The revised Manx Grand Prix will continue to build on the Island’s reputation for high profile classic motorcycle racing, with the world’s best teams and many of the leading TT riders expected to take part.

WHY HAS THE EVENT BEEN SHORTENED? / WHY HAS THE RACE SCHEDULE CHANGED?

The review included the costs of staging the event and the benefits to the local economy, the impact on residents and businesses, safety risk management of the event, the provision of sufficient marshalling cover for the event’s duration, and the relevance of the event for the motorcycle industry, the media, its existing and future fanbase.

The reduction in the event’s duration from fourteen days to nine days will ensure sufficient marshalling cover can be provided for all qualifying sessions and races, whilst reducing the overall net cost of the event to the Isle of Man taxpayer and lessening the impact of road closures on local residents and businesses.

HOW WILL THE EVENT BE ORGANISED AND MANAGED?

The Manx Motor Cycle Club will contract ACU Events Ltd as the race organisers. Gary Thompson MBE, BEM will be the Clerk of the Course.

The Manx Motor Cycle Club retains the IP and trademark for the Manx Grand Prix and will continue to provide the administrative delivery of the event, managing entries and acting as the point of contact for competitors.

The Department for Enterprise will continue to provide the funding to stage the event, the provision of facilities, infrastructure and logistics, and will assume responsibility for overall event marketing and promotion.

WHAT RACES WILL BE HELD?

The 2022 Manx Grand Prix will feature the following five races, with the schedule and official Technical Regulations released in due course:

• Senior Manx Grand Prix - Supersport machines
  
• Junior Manx Grand Prix - Supertwin machines
  
• Lightweight Manx Grand Prix - 2 stroke GP machines/ Moto3 machines
  
• Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix - Classic machines up to 500cc
  
• Superbike Classic Manx Grand Prix - Superbike Classic machines
  

WHY HAS THE NEWCOMERS’ RACE BEEN DISCONTINUED?

The review considered included the safety risk management of the event and a decision has been made to remove a Newcomers’ Race from the event schedule. Newcomers will continue to race on the TT Course and will be eligible to enter all of the Manx Grand Prix races.

The Department is working with the Manx Motor Cycle Club and race organiser ACU Events Ltd to ensure that riders taking on the challenge of the Mountain Course for the first time are introduced into the racing programme on the Isle of Man in the safest manner possible and to align this with the approach taken for TT.

This already includes comprehensive training and induction programmes with qualified, experienced rider liaison officers.  Also as part of the Safety Management System we have put in place for motorcycle racing on the Mountain Course, we are working pro-actively on a new safety initiative to assist new riders in learning the course and for more experienced riders to be able to refresh their circuit knowledge before going back out on track.

WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF RACING (CURRENTLY) FOR MGP 2022?

Manx Grand Prix 2022 schedule*

Qualifying

Sunday 21 August: Afternoon - Qualifying
Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 August: Evening - Qualifying
Friday 26 August: Morning - Qualifying

Racing

Friday 26 August:  Afternoon - Race 1
Saturday 27 August: Morning - Race 2 / Afternoon - Race 3
Monday 29 August: Morning - Race 4 / Afternoon - Race 5

*Full schedule and road closure times to be confirmed in January 2022 following Department of Infrastructure and COMIN approval.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO EXISTING FERRY BOOKINGS FOR THE 2022 CLASSIC TT AND MANX GRAND PRIX?

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has requested that customers and competitors wait until the Department has released the full schedule for the 2022 Manx Grand Prix before contacting them to discuss options.

Amendment fees will be waived for any bookings during the period to allow passengers to transfer to the dates that they require.

New bookings or amendments for the 2022 MGP will now be possible from <to be announced shortly>.

OR

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH EXISTING FERRY BOOKING FOR THE ORIGINAL TWO WEEK SCHEDULE?

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has confirmed that any customers with sailings for the 2022 Manx Grand Prix will be able to amend their booking to an alternative date and crossing subject to availability. Customers are advised to contact the Reservations Team on 08722 992 992 or IOM.Reservations@steam-packet.com.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ABOUT EXISTING TRAVEL OR ACCOMMODATION BOOKINGS FOR THE 2022 CLASSIC TT RACES?

The Department can confirm that there will be a full race programme due to take place over the late August bank holiday weekend, including races featuring Classic bikes.

Customers are also encouraged to refer to the booking terms and conditions for the booking agent, travel, accommodation or activity provider.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH EXISTING TICKETS FOR OFFICIAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE 2022 CLASSIC TT RACES?

No official tickets have been sold for the 2022 Classic TT Races but if someone has committed money to a third party operator as an advance on ticket sales, they should contact the third party to discuss your options.

The Department for Enterprise will shortly be launching tickets for the full race schedule for the Manx Grand Prix, including the Classic race schedule.

If you have any queries about Official Ticketed Experiences for the 2022 Manx Grand Prix please contact iomttraces@gov.im.